Patents Assigned to Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
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Patent number: 10100573Abstract: A separation and containment system is provided. The separation and containment system can contain natural gasses, e.g., compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), within a natural gas vehicle (NGV) service area, and separate the NGV service area from a conventional service area. The separation and containment system utilizes one or more barriers, such as industrial fabric/vinyl materials that meet various regulatory safety standards applicable to NGVs. The separation and containment system is easily constructed, dismantled, and resized/adapted in accordance with desired operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Rick Mendoza, Sheldon Canonizado, Ricardo Zagal, Evan W. Chandler, Michael J. LeBrun
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Patent number: 10094515Abstract: The present invention provides non-venting transfer systems and methods related to transferring cryogenic liquid between two vessels without venting evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere. The stations, systems, and methods utilize a feed line and a return line connecting a source tank and a pump system to allow for flow of a cryogenic liquid to the pump and return of evaporated cryogenic liquid to the source tank, thereby avoiding release of the evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: CLEAN ENERGY FUELS CORP.Inventors: Kenny Oldham, Devin Martin
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Patent number: 9625099Abstract: A system and method for reducing the pressure of a pressurized gas is provided, the system including a pressure reduction stage, the pressure reduction stage including: a knock-out bottle; a control valve connected to a gas stream inlet and configured to introduce a gas stream at an initial pressure level into the knock-out bottle; an output connected to a gas stream outlet; and a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure within the knock-out bottle and changing the operational state of the control valve to maintain the pressure inside the knock-out bottle within a pressure range. More than one pressure reduction stage may be implemented in series to provide a more gradual step down in the gas pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventor: Denis Ding
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Publication number: 20160356423Abstract: The present invention provides non-venting transfer systems and methods related to transferring cryogenic liquid between two vessels without venting evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere. The stations, systems, and methods utilize a feed line and a return line connecting a source tank and a pump system to allow for flow of a cryogenic liquid to the pump and return of evaporated cryogenic liquid to the source tank, thereby avoiding release of the evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Kenny Oldham, Devin Martin
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Publication number: 20160312955Abstract: A system and method for reducing the pressure of a pressurized gas is provided, the system including a pressure reduction stage, the pressure reduction stage including: a knock-out bottle; a control valve connected to a gas stream inlet and configured to introduce a gas stream at an initial pressure level into the knock-out bottle; an output connected to a gas stream outlet; and a pressure sensor for monitoring the pressure within the knock-out bottle and changing the operational state of the control valve to maintain the pressure inside the knock-out bottle within a pressure range. More than one pressure reduction stage may be implemented in series to provide a more gradual step down in the gas pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventor: Denis DING
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Publication number: 20160298616Abstract: Embodiments of a system for increasing the flow rate of a compressor system are provided. The system includes a gas inlet component, a compression component including a compressor; and an injection component having a compression component connection connected to one or more chambers of the compressor. By injecting a secondary high-pressure gas stream into the compressor through the injection component, the discharge flow rate of the compressor system may be increased above the flow rate capable based on the design of the compressor, without additional equipment or unduly increasing power consumption of the compressor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: CLEAN ENERGY FUELS CORP.Inventor: Denis DING
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Patent number: 9395047Abstract: Methods and systems and are presented for estimating the amount of natural gas provided to a vehicle at a natural gas time-fill filling station. The methods comprise measuring and wirelessly transmitting pre- and post-fill pressures measurements of compressed natural gas in a compressed natural gas storage tank on-board a natural gas vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: CLEAN ENERGY FUELS CORP.Inventor: Denis Ding
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Publication number: 20160069124Abstract: A separation and containment system is provided. The separation and containment system can contain natural gasses, e.g., compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), within a natural gas vehicle (NGV) service area, and separate the NGV service area from a conventional service area. The separation and containment system utilizes one or more barriers, such as industrial fabric/vinyl materials that meet various regulatory safety standards applicable to NGVs. The separation and containment system is easily constructed, dismantled, and resized/adapted in accordance with desired operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicant: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Rick Mendoza, Sheldon Canonizado, Ricardo Zagal, Evan W. Chandler, Michael J. LeBrun
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Publication number: 20150192250Abstract: The present invention provides non-venting transfer systems and methods related to transferring cryogenic liquid between two vessels without venting evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere. The stations, systems, and methods utilize a feed line and a return line connecting a source tank and a pump system to allow for flow of a cryogenic liquid to the pump and return of evaporated cryogenic liquid to the source tank, thereby avoiding release of the evaporated cryogenic liquid into the atmosphere.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Kenny Oldham, Devin Martin
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Patent number: 8950441Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a reciprocating compressor having a high pressure storage vessel let down for a CNG station for refueling motor vehicles, wherein the CNG station design utilizes inlet gas from a local gas utility. By supplementing the inlet gas with a pressure let down in order to de-pressurize the gas from a high-pressure storage vessel, the CNG station has the ability to increase and adjust its flow capacity.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Denis Ding, Mitchell Pratt
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Patent number: 8875750Abstract: A reciprocating compressor comprises a gas inlet section including an inlet gas meter for metering inlet gas from a high pressure storage vessel, a compressor, a valve control panel and storage, a pressure let down that depressurizes the high pressure gas from the high pressure storage vessel to the inlet of the compressor section, a heat exchanger having thermal storage media, and a dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Denis Ding, Mitchell Pratt
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Patent number: 8839829Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a natural gas compression system, comprising a gas inlet component for the entrance of natural gas into the system, a booster component for increasing the pressure of the natural gas, a drying component for drying the natural gas, a compressor component including a reciprocating compressor for further increasing the pressure of the natural gas, a valve control panel and storage component, and a dispensing component.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Denis Ding, Mitchell Pratt
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Publication number: 20140246117Abstract: Methods and systems and are presented for estimating the amount of natural gas provided to a vehicle at a natural gas time-fill filling station. The methods comprise measuring and wirelessly transmitting pre- and post-fill pressures measurements of compressed natural gas in a compressed natural gas storage tank on-board a natural gas vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: CLEAN ENERGY FUELS CORP.Inventor: Denis Ding
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Patent number: 8783307Abstract: The present invention provides a CNG time fill system having a compression system including a gas dryer and one or more gas compressors, a gas storage system for storing the natural gas, a manifold time fill system for filling a plurality of natural gas vehicles with the natural gas, a pressure transducer or pressure transmitter for detecting the pressure within the manifold time fill system, and an automatic shut off valve for selectively stopping the flow of gas into the manifold time fill system.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventor: Denis Ding
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Patent number: 8669095Abstract: The present invention provides a biological H2S removal system for the treatment of process gas, comprising: a housing that receives a process gas stream through a gas inlet, the housing comprising a plurality of layers through which the process gas stream flows while it is treated for H2S removal, and a gas outlet through which a treated gas stream exits; wherein air is added to the process gas stream prior to the process gas stream entering the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventor: Jeffrey J. Grill
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Patent number: 8574888Abstract: The present invention provides a biological H2S removal system for the treatment of process gas, comprising: a housing that receives a process gas stream through a gas inlet, the housing comprising a plurality of layers through which the process gas stream flows while it is treated for H2S removal, and a gas outlet through which a treated gas stream exits; wherein air is added to the process gas stream prior to the process gas stream entering the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventor: Jeffrey J. Grill
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Patent number: 7967036Abstract: The present invention provides a natural gas compression system, comprising a gas inlet component for the entrance of natural gas into the system, a booster component for increasing the pressure of the natural gas, a drying component for drying the natural gas, a compressor component including a reciprocating compressor for further increasing the pressure of the natural gas, a valve control panel and storage component, and a dispensing component.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.Inventors: Denis Ding, Mitchell Pratt